We have used all three. They all show up in lifestyle Instagram posts about "non-toxic kitchens." They are not interchangeable. Each one solves a different problem and the question of which one to buy comes down to which problem you have.
This is the version of the comparison written by someone who has actually scrubbed all three.
What each one is
Caraway is a 7- or 12-piece ceramic-coated set in pastel colors with a hanging pot rack and built-in lid storage. The aluminum-bodied pieces are sprayed with a mineral ceramic coating. Caraway publishes the third-party lab certifications showing the coating is free of PFAS, lead, cadmium, and mercury.
Our Place's Always Pan 2.0 is one pan that replaces eight pieces of cookware — a frying pan, sauté pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, non-stick, and spatula. Same ceramic-coated category as Caraway, but a different design philosophy: small kitchens, one pan does it all. Our Place states the coating is free of PTFE, PFOA, other PFAS, lead, cadmium, toxic metals, and nanoparticles.
Made In Stainless Clad is a different category entirely. No coating. 5-ply 18/10 stainless steel with an aluminum core for heat distribution, made in the USA. This is restaurant-line cookware sold direct-to-consumer at substantially lower prices than the legacy brands.
Material comparison
| | Caraway | Always Pan 2.0 | Made In Stainless | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Body material | Aluminum | Aluminum | 18/10 stainless, 5-ply | | Surface | Ceramic coating | Ceramic coating | None — bare stainless | | PFAS-free? | Yes | Yes | Yes (no coating) | | Coating wear concern? | Yes — 2-3 years | Yes — 2-3 years | No — never | | Induction? | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Lifetime warranty? | No | No | Yes |
The honest durability picture
Ceramic coatings are not forever. Both Caraway and Our Place will tell you to use wood or silicone utensils, hand-wash, and avoid high heat. With normal use, plan on the slip starting to fade somewhere in the 2-3 year window. That is not a defect — it is the chemistry of mineral-based ceramic coatings. They are softer than PTFE and they wear faster.
Stainless steel does not have this curve. There is nothing to wear off. A Made In skillet at year 10 looks the same as one at year 1, except for the patina marks that everyone gets and no one minds.
The honest learning-curve picture
Stainless steel sticks. That is its reputation, and the reputation is correct if you do not learn the technique. The technique is: heat the empty pan to medium-high until a water drop dances on the surface (Leidenfrost effect), then add oil, then add food. Eggs slide. Steaks release.
Ceramic coatings do not require this technique. You can put cold eggs in a cold Caraway pan with no oil and they will release. That is the actual usability advantage and it is not a small one.
Price-per-year math
Working through the cost of each:
- Caraway 7-piece set runs around $395. With a 2-3 year coating life, that is $130-$200 per year.
- Always Pan 2.0 is around $155 alone. With the same coating life, that is $50-$80 per year — and it replaces multiple pans, which makes it the right pick for small kitchens.
- Made In 10-piece stainless set runs around $700. Lifetime warranty. Even at a conservative 15-year life, that is under $50 per year, and the realistic life is decades.
The math points hard at stainless if you cook regularly. Ceramic still wins on convenience and on the look of the pastel set hanging from the rack.
Which one is right for you
| If you... | Pick | | --- | --- | | Want the easiest cleanup, do not mind replacing in 2-3 years | Caraway | | Have a small kitchen and want one pan to rule them all | Always Pan 2.0 | | Cook 4+ times a week and want a forever set | Made In Stainless | | Want the cheapest entry into ceramic non-stick | Always Pan 2.0 | | Want induction-ready, lifetime warranty | Made In Stainless |
What we use day-to-day
Both. The Made In stainless skillet handles searing, sauces, and pan deglaze. The Always Pan handles weeknight egg-and-vegetable scrambles where the convenience is worth more than the durability. We have replaced ceramic-coated pieces twice in the same period that a single stainless skillet has remained essentially new.
If you are buying one thing and you cook several times a week, Made In Stainless. If you are buying one thing and you cook occasionally and want it to be easy, Always Pan 2.0. Caraway sits in the middle and is the right pick if the aesthetic and the matching set matter to you.
For the broader category buying guide, see Best PFAS-Free Cookware.
Frequently asked questions
(See structured FAQ at the bottom of this page for full answers.)
